Search Kent County Civil Court Records
Kent County civil court records are kept at the Kent County Courthouse in Dover. The state capital sits on a 5.3-acre site on The Green, and the courthouse holds the Superior Court, the Court of Common Pleas, Justice of the Peace Court 16, the Register in Chancery, and the Prothonotary. You can search the county's civil dockets online through CourtConnect or visit the clerk in person. This page lists the right office for each type of civil case and how to get copies of case files.
Kent County Overview
Kent County Courthouse in Dover
The Kent County Courthouse sits at 414 Federal Street in Dover. The site is bordered by Federal, Water, and The Green. The courthouse is the judicial hub for central Delaware. Inside, you will find the Superior Court, the Court of Common Pleas, JP Court 16, the Register in Chancery, the Prothonotary, the law library, jury offices, and Capitol Police. The Attorney General and Public Defender also keep satellite offices here. The state page for the building is at courts.delaware.gov/aoc/kccourthouse.
The screenshot below is the Kent County Courthouse page.
The Green in Dover has been the heart of the city since colonial times.
| Office | Kent County Courthouse |
|---|---|
| Address |
414 Federal Street Dover, DE 19901 |
| Superior Court | (302) 735-1900 |
| Prothonotary | (302) 735-1910 |
| Website | courts.delaware.gov/aoc/kccourthouse |
Kent County Superior Court Civil Records
The Kent County Superior Court hears major civil cases over $50,000, felony criminal cases, and appeals from lower courts. The Prothonotary's office on the first floor maintains every civil case file. Call (302) 735-1910 for Prothonotary questions. The direct court line is (302) 735-1900. See courts.delaware.gov/locations/superior_kn for the court's state page.
There are three public access terminals in the Prothonotary's office on the first floor of the courthouse. Access is by appointment only. Call or email the office and write "Public Access" as the subject line. Filing fees for Superior Court civil cases run from $175 up, plus the $10 Court Security Assessment Fee. Technology fees of $0.50 per document apply under Rule 79.1. The full fee schedule is at courts.delaware.gov/superior/fees.
The Kent County Prothonotary's office is also listed at 38 The Green, Dover, which is the internal address within the courthouse. For petitions like expungements, the filing fee is $75 and is non-refundable. Checks are made payable to State of Delaware. The office asks for the original and two copies of the petition set when you file in person or by mail.
Note: A Kent County petition filing that requires Attorney General review takes about 8 to 12 weeks from filing to final order.
Court of Common Pleas in Kent County
The Kent County Court of Common Pleas sits in the same courthouse. It hears civil cases up to $50,000, most misdemeanors, preliminary hearings in felony cases, and appeals from the JP Court. For civil filings, contact Julie Brooks at 302-735-3925 or email CCPKent_CivilFilings@delaware.gov. See courts.delaware.gov/CommonPleas for the court's main page.
The civil complaint filing fee is $85. A name change petition is also $85. An appeal from JP Court runs $135. Full fee details are posted at courts.delaware.gov/help/fees/ccpfees. The court uses eCourtPlus and CourtConnect for online case access. Case files are kept for 7 years after final disposition.
Online Access to Kent County Cases
The main tool for looking up a case is CourtConnect at courtconnect.courts.delaware.gov. The portal covers Kent County Superior Court, Common Pleas, and JP Court cases. Search by name, business, or case number.
You can also use the civil case search page at courts.delaware.gov/docket. Both tools pull from the same data set. Family Court and sealed files will not appear. For questions about case access, call the Prothonotary or the Common Pleas clerk at the phone numbers above.
Historical Kent County Records at the Archives
The Delaware Public Archives at 121 Duke of York Street in Dover is the single most important place for Kent County history. The archives hold land records, probate files, tax lists, and court dockets from the colonial era forward. Email archives@delaware.gov or call 302-744-5000 for help. The main page is archives.delaware.gov.
Below is the archives home page.
Many old court books and deeds have been microfilmed and are now searchable at the archives.
The Kent County law library is also at the courthouse. Under 10 Del. C. § 1942, the Kent County law library is designated the official law library of the state. It is a free resource for anyone doing legal research. For property records, the Kent County Levy Court keeps the Online Property Information Management System (PIMS). The Kent County Assessor's Office is at 555 Bay Road in Dover.
Privacy Rule: Delaware Rule 79.1 requires parties to redact Social Security numbers, minor initials, birth dates, and bank account numbers before filing with the Kent County clerk.
Kent County FOIA Requests
Delaware's FOIA law at 29 Del. C. §§ 10001-10008 covers state and local records. The state portal is at delaware.gov/freedom-of-information-act. For the state code, see law.justia.com/codes/delaware/title-10. Kent County Policy 25 sets rules for county records access. Court records, though, follow the courts' own access rules.
The City of Dover runs its own FOIA portal at doverde.justfoia.com. The portal tracks past requests and the records released in each one. Under 29 Del. C. § 10003(h), the city has 15 business days to respond. The first 20 pages of copies are free. After that, pages run $0.10 each under 29 Del. C. § 10003(m). For code violation files, Dover charges a $50 flat fee per property. Police report copies run $25 if you ask as an insurance company.
What Kent County Civil Court Records Contain
Every civil case file in Kent County starts with a complaint or petition. The court adds every motion, answer, order, and judgment as the case moves through the system. The docket lists each event in order by date.
A full Kent County civil file usually has:
- Complaint, petition, or other initial filing
- Summons and proof of service
- Answer and any counterclaims
- Motions, briefs, and replies
- Orders and final judgment
Most of the file is open to the public. Family Court matters, sealed files, and juvenile cases are not. Financial disclosures and tax returns can be sealed on request. The Prothonotary does not review filings for redaction, so parties must clean their own documents before they come in.
Cities in Kent County
Cities in Kent County file civil cases at the Kent County Courthouse in Dover. Harrington has its own JP Court for small claims.
Other Delaware Counties
If the case file you need is in a different part of the state, check the other two counties.